landmark

American  

[land-mahrk] / ˈlændˌmɑrk /

noun

1. a prominent or conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide, especially to ships at sea or to travelers on a road; a distinguishing landscape feature marking a site or location.

   The post office served as a landmark for locating the street to turn down.

2. something used to mark the boundary of land.

3. a building or other place that is of outstanding historical, aesthetic, or cultural importance, often declared as such and given a special status landmark designation, ordaining its preservation, by some authorizing organization.

4. a significant or historic event, juncture, achievement, etc..

   The court decision stands as a landmark in constitutional law.

   Synonyms:

   benchmark, watershed, milestone

---

verb (used with object)

1. to declare (a building, site, etc.) a landmark.

   a movement to landmark New York's older theaters.

landmark British  

/ ˈlændˌmɑːk /

noun

1. a prominent or well-known object in or feature of a particular landscape

2. an important or unique decision, event, fact, discovery, etc

3. a boundary marker or signpost

---

Other Word Forms

• unlandmarked adjective

Etymology

Origin of landmark

before 1000; Middle English; Old English landmearc. See land, mark ¹

Example Sentences

Sworn Testimony: Mark Zuckerberg faced pointed questions about his company’s underage users and content moderation efforts at a landmark Los Angeles trial Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 2014, California passed a landmark student privacy law that prohibited technology companies from selling students’ data, targeting students in advertising or disclosing their personal information.

From Los Angeles Times

The iconic Rose Bowl opened in 1922, is a national historic landmark and boasts ample tailgating opportunities, but some fans have complained about the aging venue’s uncomfortable seating and lack of modern amenities.

From Los Angeles Times

Travellers’ Tour Through the United States was a novelty that featured a hand-colored map of the then-24 states, peppered with towns and landmarks.

From The Wall Street Journal

"This landmark case is the first judicial challenge to a DSA fine," it added.

From Barron's

Related Words

• marker
• memorial
• milestone
• monument
• museum
• tree